New signage at Peterborough Farmers’ Market labelled a ‘rebel move’

A group of local farmers has introduced new signage at the Peterborough Farmers’ Market that it says is designed to better identify local growers. But the market’s board says it hasn’t endorsed the move.

In recent weeks, some vendors requested the need for more transparency for the weekly Saturday market at the Memorial Centre parking lot. They claimed some sellers were purchasing produce from a Toronto terminal and reselling it in Peterborough.

On Saturday, the Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Network (PRFN) introduced a new banner system that clearly labels producers — stating where a farm is located and verifying the grower is selling products from their land.

Peter Hughes, a member of PRFN, says there has been longtime confusion about where some food originates.

“We’re not so much opposed to the presence of resellers; we’re more interested in people knowing who they are buying from,” he said. “The banners we have up are a way that customers know what they are buying and where it’s from and to support and promote the region.”